Nazim, who had served as the defence minister under former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and incumbent President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, is serving an 11-year prison sentence for smuggling and possessing dangerous weapons. His attorney, Husnu Suood had told Haveeru that the correctional service had on Tuesday granted him permission to leave the Maldives for medical treatment. Nazim’s family is trying to send him off to neighbouring India as soon as possible, he had said. However, Prisons Commissioner Mohamed Husham insisted that Nazim could only travel to the permitted country. Though the ex-minister's family had requested to take him to India or Malaysia, government had given permission for Nazim to travel to Singapore as all the required treatments were available there, Husham explained. "We have given permission for seven days," he added. In May, Nazim was allowed to get treatment in Singapore for blurred vision. He spent 45 days in Singapore, and upon his return was re-taken to the Asseyri Prison in Hinmafushi island. Nazim’s condition had not improved since, according to his family, which had sought his transfer to house arrest. The government, however, is yet to take a decision regarding the request. Nazim had appealed his prison sentence. The High Court had held two hearings over the appeal in June, but the case had been stalled ever since.